Interview with Nancy Volkers

Q: Have you always known you wanted to write?

A: Definitely… writing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Q: What was the first piece of “real” writing you did?

A: I wrote an illustrated Halloween story in kindergarten – one long run-on sentence! It started out “There once was a witch and she had a black pot and one day a pumpkin came and stole the pot….” I don’t remember the rest, but I remember that the witch and pumpkin reconciled in the end.

Q: How long did it take you to write A Scottish Ferry Tale?

A: It took about six months to complete. But the first draft was done in a month — I wrote it as part of National Novel Writing Month, in November 2008. Then I went back and added more to the story.

Q: Can you describe your novel to readers in 20 words or less?

A: Young woman grapples with issues of head vs heart, fairy tales, love and chocolate cake. A handsome Scot helps.

Q: What do you find to be the most challenging part of editing?

A: Flow. I want the story to flow, but I’m very much a “day in the life” writer — I want people to see the characters as people, doing things that real people do. Sometimes that means spending five chapters on a two-week period of time, and then skipping ahead months into the future. It’s tough to strike a balance between recounting too much and leaving out important bits.

Q: How did you celebrate once A Scottish Ferry Tale was published?

A: When the first proof arrived, I screamed – a happy scream. I didn’t have any specific celebration, really. But I celebrate a little bit almost every day — when I get an email from someone who’s been touched by it, when I see people purchasing it, when aspiring novelists ask for advice.

What was the biggest difference you noticed when writing your second novel?

The first book felt like a 5K, and the second book was more like a marathon. I gave myself time with Scotland by Starlight to explore other characters, develop more storylines, notice details. The first book was like that first rush of in-love feeling, where you can’t spend enough time with the other person and it’s all new and urgent and dramatic. The second book was more like how it feels once you settle down a bit in a relationship, take the time to notice the other person’s idiosyncrasies, have a few arguments, get annoyed at them for trivial things, but fall even deeper in love with them at the same time. I admit I have a slight preference for the sequel… there’s a lot packed into it.

 Did you know when you started A Scottish Ferry Tale that you would write a sequel?

I did not. It’s kind of embarrassing what happened, but I’ll share anyway. I wrote all of the first book and a good chunk of the second book all at once. Then I had an overwhelming obsession with publishing it. But it was clearly a novel plus some more, and not a nice round story all neat and tidy.  So I ended A Scottish Ferry Tale at a natural ending place — the reunion on Coll — and decided the rest of the story would become the sequel. I worked on it for months fairly steadily, took some time off, and then finished it up in late 2010 and published it a few months later.
 How did the ending for Scotland by Starlight come to you? It’s shocking!

I’ve gotten a lot of flak for the epilogue! It was literally one of those days where I sat down and started writing, and realized I was writing in Ralph’s voice. Apparently he had something to say, and got impatient with all of the chapters being from Cassie’s point of view. I sobbed while I was writing it… especially during the scene with Cal and the stone. It might sound bizarre, but I still feel awful for putting the characters through that, even though they’re fictional! But… it never occurred to me to leave out the epilogue. There are some other bits I eventually decided not to include in the sequel, but I wrote that entire epilogue in one sitting and the way you see it in the book is pretty much the way it came out.

 Are you working on another project?

That depends on your definition of “working” . I have two unfinished novels sitting on my MacBook, and another that’s mostly in my head with about 3 pages on paper. Have I worked on any of these lately? Um… no. This past year has been chaotic for me to say the least, and I just haven’t had the focus. I’ve been having some vivid dreams recently, however, and have woken up with paragraphs of words in my head, which is promising. The muses are still there… I just need to be a bit better about nurturing them.

Q: You live in Vermont, a state that has been on my travel wish list for years. Why do you enjoy living there?

A: It’s gorgeous, and I love the four distinct seasons (five, if you count “mud season” between winter and spring). Being outside in nature is important to me. The state is like one big small town — people are tough and independent, yet always willing to lend a hand. And there’s a sense of community here that’s invigorating; people still trust one another. Add in local foods, beer, wines, and art — it’s just a wonderful place to live. (And billboards are against the law, so when you drive on the interstate, you can see the mountains!)

Q: Where would be your dream vacation?

A: I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand.

Q: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

A: Get messy. Don’t expect perfection in the first draft, or even the twentieth. There’s a great essay by Katherine Patterson (Bridge to Terabithia) – she lives in Barre, Vermont, which is known for granite quarrying. She says that the first draft is akin to quarrying the granite – you’re just trying to get something out of the ground. It won’t be pretty, so don’t expect it to be.  Once you’ve done that hard work, the grunt work, you can start sculpting and turn your lump of granite into something amazing.

Also, seek out people who can provide constructive criticism, not just pats on the back. We all love to hear kudos, but your writing will change and improve if you are willing to consider other points of view.

Thanks Nancy for dropping by! Please be sure to check out Nancy’s website and her blog.

Live Out Loud by Heather Wardell

Ah, another Heather Wardell book on the blog. I’m happy to announce I have read and reviewed all of her books, and she is at the top of my Favorite Authors list. Live Out Loud captures the story of Amy, hobbyist songwriter with a heavy goal on her mind – honor the memory of her late childhood friend. Amy thinks the way to do this is to start a support center for teenage girls, but when Amy suddenly catapults to fame thanks to a video of her singings blows up the internet, Amy is faced to realize that maybe the center isn’t meant to be. Amy – now posing as Misty Will, hit pop star – has fame at her door and teenage girls following her every move. Can Amy really give up being Misty – or is the call of fame too strong for her to ignore?

Another book I highly enjoyed from Wardell. Amy is such a confused character, so sure that she knows what she wants just unsure how to reach it, but at the same time – she’s hopelessly lost. She knows she wants to honor her friend, but it’s fairly obvious that she has no idea how to go about the center. I loved the pop culture twist in the book – how to become an overnight sensation with just an uploaded video, the pressures celebrities have on them when their considered to be role models, and the great content that gets delivered in each book from Wardell. There are some hard hitting topics discussed – from teen death to abortions – but the story is very touching and I would definitely recommend Live Out Loud.

Rating:

Challenge 2012:Post Reviews:February

February Reviews

See past reviews

January Reviews

 Please note this is not the sign up page. To sign up, click here

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Only signed up challengers are eligible to win

Prize for January: Three (3) winners will win an eBook copy of Unscripted by Natalie Aaron & Marla Schwartz. You must post the link to your review in the Mister Linky below. This can be to your blog, GoodReads page, or other sources such as Amazon.

In My Mailbox: Week of January 29 Part 2

In My Mailbox: Week of January 29 Part 2

Title: Point Click Love

Author: Molly Shapiro

Received: From Molly Shapiro

Synopsis: In Molly Shapiro’s fun and sexy debut novel, four women try to sort through the wild and complicated world of text messaging, status updates, and other high-speed connections.  

Best friends and fellow midwesterners Katie, Annie, Maxine, and Claudia are no strangers to dealing with love and relationships, but with online dating and social networking now in the mix, they all have the feeling they’re not in Kansas anymore. Katie, a divorced mother of two, secretly seeks companionship through the Internet only to discover that the rules of the dating game have drastically changed. Annie, a high-powered East Coast transplant, longs for a baby, yet her online search for a sperm donor is not as easy—or anonymous—as she anticipates. Maxine, a successful artist with a seemingly perfect husband, turns to celebrity gossip sites to distract herself from her less-than-ideal marriage. And Claudia, tired of her husband’s obsession with Facebook, finds herself irresistibly drawn to a handsome co-worker. As these women navigate the new highs and lows of the digital age, they each find that their wrong turns lead surprisingly to the right click and, ultimately, the connection they were seeking.

Title: Blame it on the Fame

Author: Tracie Banister

Received: From Tracie Banister

Synopsis: A power-trippin’ bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – that’s how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year’s too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other. Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory?

Amidst all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all culminating on Tinsel Town’s biggest night when anything can happen, and does.

BLAME IT ON THE FAME is the debut novel of author Tracie Banister whose writing is similar in tone (sexy, humorous) to the works of Lauren Weisberger and Candace Bushnell.

Title: Losing Clementine

Author: Ashley Ream

Received: From Lauren @ Harper Collins for SheKnows Book Lounge Review

Synopsis: In thirty days Clementine Pritchard will be finished with her last painting and her life.

World-renowned artist and sharp-tongued wit Clementine Pritchard has decided that she’s done. After flushing away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions, she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends—finish one last painting, make nice with her ex-husband, and find a home for her cat. Clementine plans to spend the month she has left in a swirl of art-world parties, manic work sessions, and outrageous acts—but what she doesn’t expect is to uncover secrets surrounding the tragedy that befell her mother and sister. In an ending no one sees coming, will we lose Clementine or will we find her?

A bold debut from an exciting new voice, Losing Clementine is a wonderfully entertaining and poignant novel about unanticipated self-discovery that features one of the most irresistible, if deeply flawed, characters to grace contemporary fiction in years.

Title: Another Piece of My Heart

Author: Jane Green

Received: From Stephanie @ St. Martin’s Press for SheKnows Book Lounge Review

Synopsis: Andi has spent much of her adult life looking for the perfect man, and at thirty-seven, she’s finally found him.  Ethan–divorced with two daughters, Emily and Sophia–is a devoted father and even better husband.  Always hoping one day she would be a mother, Andi embraces the girls like they were her own. But in Emily’s eyes, Andi is an obstacle to her father’s love, and Emily will do whatever it takes to break her down. When the dynamics between the two escalate, they threaten everything Andi believes about love, family, and motherhood—leaving both women standing at a crossroad in their lives…and in their hearts.

ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART is a novel that illuminates the nuances and truths about relationships and is Jane Green at her absolute best.

Interview with Erik Atwell

 Why did you want to write Thank You For Flying Air Zoe?

Hi Samantha! Real quick before getting to the Q&A, I want to thank you for both having me here on Chick Lit Plus, and for putting together this ridiculously cool blog tour!

Okay, so… Why did I want to write Air Zoe? Maybe because I felt I owed it to readers to share my experiences about being in an all-girl garage band.

Kidding. I do that a lot. Hopefully it won’t get too annoying.

The truth is, I wrote this story because I very much wanted to tell a universally relatable story about reconnecting with one’s youth. I think that for many, adulthood arrives without much warning, and it often leaves our wildest and most unbridled dreams in the dust. To me, this is sort of a bummer. Granted, adulthood brings with it a full boatload of responsibilities, and we can’t all just pitch everything on a whim and backpack through Europe whenever an adventurous itch needs to be scratched. But I believe that with enough emotional maintenance, we can hold on to the urgency and energy of our youth.

I think that one of the many keys to happiness is to live without regrets. And for the most part, I’ve followed this blueprint well. Though I’m still slightly bitter that I never won an Olympic gold medal. I was kind of a hotshot on skis as a six-year-old, but looking back now, I see where it all went wrong.

Not enough training and too many trips to the local DQ.

Oh well. I’m sure the chocolate milkshake has derailed many amazing athletic accomplishments over the years, huh?

Anyway, I thought it would be both challenging and fun for me as a writer to take a shot at writing a story about a woman who wanted to correct her life’s one big regret. And really, didn’t we all dream of being a rock star at some point during our childhood?

 What is the hardest part about writing for you?

That’s an easy one… Starting. Starting a new story, starting a new chapter, starting the day’s writing session. Just plain trying to get out of the gate and hit my stride. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet located the little on/off switch that will allow me to be a writer one moment and a rational, agreeable, and normal person the next. I can do my best to schedule a specific writing time, but unless my mind is properly slanted toward creativity in that moment, I will be utterly useless as a writer.

Conversely, my favorite part of writing is barreling past all of those horrible potholes and speed bumps that clutter up my path. Once the story gains speed and the writing is in rhythm, that’s when the whole process can be pure bliss.

 What is the most rewarding part of being published?

Now see, this is such a great question that I’m having a hard time starting my answer! (*grin*)

Maybe this is because there are so many possible answers. For one, being published eliminates what would likely be a massive regret were I to never publish a novel. I think that’s the basic reward as dictated by my unofficial Bucket List. Been writing a while. I really wanted this.

A rewarding memory that’ll forever make me laugh… When the book first came out, I received three boxes of author copies. So I did what any sane person would do — I stacked all 96 copies on top of one another to see whether or not I was taller than the stack! I was, but not by much. And wow, wasn’t there a spectacular moment of pure panic when at about 80 books high, the tower started to topple! Anyway, I think that the sheer lunacy of building my own little Air Zoe high rise kind of captured the euphoria of being published. You don’t quite know what to do with yourself, so you end up going slightly cuckoo. I’m surprised I didn’t try to build a fort!

But I think that the most rewarding part of being published has to be hearing compliments from readers and reviewers. It’s definitely a trip when you check your daily websites and see that someone has taken the time to share their thoughts about your novel. And if you’re lucky enough to get four, or even (*gasp*) five stars for your work?

You kind of spaz out a little. Maybe do a somersault/handstand/Macarena combo. It’s not all that pretty, but I find it effectively conveys the right amount of enthusiasm.

 Are you currently working on another novel?

Not at the moment, but this is only because I’m currently working on being a new dad, and the little one has staked a claim to my schedule for a while. That said, I’m definitely eager to get something else out there soon. Right now I’m looking at two options.

Option One… I already have a finished draft of a pretty nifty novel called Most Likely To Succeed that I wrote prior to writing Air Zoe, but it needs to have maybe a hundred or so pages lopped off around the edges. It’s just way too long. I think I thought I was the Tolstoy of chick lit or something.

Option Two… Maybe a sequel to Thank You For Flying Air Zoe? Yeah, this is what I’d love to write next, provided this first effort can win over enough of an audience to justify an encore performance. I even have an (extra top secret) title and storyline swimming around in my head!

 Do you have a writing routine you try to stick to?

Once upon a time in the pre-fatherhood era, yes. I would spend mornings lost in impossibly deep thought over what I would write later that day. And by that, I mean that I pretty much surfed the internet while watching SportsCenter and drinking way too much coffee. On occasion, I might write what I thought was a cool sentence or two as I prepared to tackle the project that afternoon.

Afternoon would arrive, and I would be raring to go! But after even more coffee, I would usually conclude that my cool sentences were not at all cool, and I was probably going to have to give up on this writing thing for good. I imagine that in my mind, I have given up on having a career as a writer close to five thousand times. “I should quit writing,” I would say to myself. “I should quit writing, and instead focus on trying to make the 2014 Olympic Ski Team!”

Fortunately, I’m not very good at quitting. And sure enough, by late afternoon, while in full sulk over my epic creative inabilities, the proverbial bright idea light bulb would suddenly shine brightly overhead. I would then hurry to the computer, hammer out a few paragraphs — or even pages — and thus make an amazing and dramatic eleventh hour save of the project!

Then the very next morning, I would wake up, make coffee, read these allegedly brilliant things I’d written the day before, and think, “Wow, this is kind of awful.”

Lather, rinse, repeat! (*grin*)

 How important do you think blogs and/or social media are to authors?

Given the web’s global reach, I think that blogs and such are an absolute necessity these days. I recently wrote a blog post announcing this Blog Tour, and I joked about how traditional book tours are just so 20th century. Sure, some of the more established authors hit the road and draw large crowds at signings, but us debut authors don’t have the resources needed to facilitate such promotion. Social media, however, gives us a bit of a fighting chance to compete. Still, it takes work to connect with others through blogs, or sites like Facebook and Twitter, because with so many writers out there trying to get noticed, the creative chaos can be tough to sift through. Too many voices at one time can create a white noise wherein none of the voices are truly heard.

I’m definitely still learning how to best utilize social media, but it seems to me that a good strategy is one that comes pretty naturally to me, and that is to both know and respect that fine line between connecting and self-promoting. My own blog is almost criminally primitive, but it achieves what I believe is its most vital goal – it helps me connect with readers on a more personal level. And if you can give readers a chance to care about you as a person, I think they’re more inclined to support your career as an author.

So yeah, I think that blogs can be fantastic little windows into the worlds of authors they might otherwise never get to know. I mean if I had this same fledgling career a dozen years ago, would my audience know that I’m a new dad who’s now rockin’ a burgundy minivan?

Wow, did I just admit that?

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

I would tell them this… Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’. Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive. You’ve gotta hold on to what you’ve got, it doesn’t really matter if you make it or not… And… Um…

Okay, time out.

Can you tell that I’ve spent the last few months mired in 80s music?

Kidding aside, there’s actually a whole lot of sound advice within the 80s lyrics mash-up above, cliché though it all may be. Unless you’re incredibly lucky and/or impossibly talented, you are going to need enough belief in yourself to overpower rejection. Because it probably will happen, and when it does, you will question your own voice. You will doubt that you have what it takes to make it in an industry that is growing increasingly tougher to break into.

And you know what?

That is totally okay. Maybe you don’t have what it takes — at least not yet. However, maybe you’re close, and all you need is to keep trying. Keep studying the writings of others. Keep picking yourself up when you stumble and fall. Keep writing, because your creative evolution demands that you never give up. And above all else, don’t beat yourself up if you’re struggling. Because writing isn’t easy, and struggle is just part of the program. Personally, I’ve always found that the less pressure I put on myself to succeed on others’ terms, the better my writing is. Seems to me that the less you worry about the outcome, the more likely you are to see results.

I have a favorite quote that fits here and will be a nice parting sentiment. It comes from Anonymous. I don’t know about you, but I hope that someday they discover who Anonymous is, because he/she says tons of quotable things.

The quote: “The worst thing you write is better than the best thing you didn’t write.”

Remember this and just write.

Thanks for everything, Samantha — I’ve had a blast being here.

Like, totally!

The Divorce Club by Jayde Scott

The Divorce Club by Jayde Scott is a book for the women. While the story follows Sarah, a young mother whose husband has just taken off to be with someone even younger, I fell very easily into the story even though I am not married, divorced, or a mom. I think Sarah will be very compatible to many readers, and her journey pulled me in right from the first page. On her own for the first time and having to support herself and her thirteen-year old daughter, Sarah comes up with the idea to start a divorce club – a place where women going through a divorce can come for support, advice, or just bitch about their exes. The club features a slew of different woman, but the most interesting member is Jaime, the only male of the group. Sarah is forced to fight off her attraction to Jaime, and also try to figure out why he joined the group. And contend with a stalker. And deal with ex-husband who has just took up residence at their house again. The chaos is complete is Sarah’s life, and now she just has to figure out how to take control. I really enjoyed The Divorce Club. Like I said earlier, I think this book will strike a chord with all women, whether you can relate to Sarah’s story or not. Scott’s writing is key, humorous yet insightful, witty and distinctive, and the plot twists will keep you frantically reading until the end.

Rating:

In My Mailbox: Week of January 29

In My Mailbox: Week of January 29, 2012

Title: Children of the Gods

Author: Monica Millard

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.

The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching.

Title: Love By Design

Author: Liz Matis

Received: Via CLP Blog Tours

Synopsis: Love By Design is a fun, flirty, and hot read. In this Sex in the City meets Trading Spaces romp sparks fly on camera as interior designer Victoria Bryce breaks in temporary co-host Aussie Russ Rowland. Arguments over design plans and measurement mishaps ignite passions behind the scenes.
But when the past collides with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

Title: A Promise of Safekeeping

Author: Lisa Dale

Received: From Lisa Dale, for SheKnows Book Lounge

Synopsis: Nine years ago, Lauren Matthews prosecuted the case of a lifetime. But her error in judgment sent an innocent man to prison for a long time. Now Arlen Fieldstone has finally been released, and Lauren has only one thing on her mind: asking forgiveness. How can she make up for nine years of his life?

To get to Arlen, Lauren must first get through Arlen’s best friend, Will Farris. Will hasn’t forgotten Lauren from those days, and he hasn’t forgiven her for destroying his best friend’s life. He is Arlen’s keeper, protecting him from suspicious neighbors as well as from Lauren.

In the steaming summer streets of Richmond, Virginia, three people’s lives collide. Lauren needs forgiveness. Arlen needs hope. And Will? He needs something too, something that no one can know-especially not Lauren…

Blank Slate Kate by Heather Wardell

I have been a fan of Heather Wardell’s since her first book, and have happily read and reviewed each and every one on Chick Lit Plus. When she contacted me about doing a tour for Blank Slate Kate, I was thrilled. Mainly because I got to read another book. I was super curious about this one, where the main character wakes up in her thirties – but her last memories are from when she is seventeen. Kate – or is her real name Kate? – has lost all her memories from the past fifteen years. She has to try to figure out who she really is, and things really get complicated when her husband appears. Kate doesn’t have any recollection of this man, her wedding, her corporate life. How can she piece the puzzle together?

Again, another five star review for a Wardell book. Once I started this book, I just could not put it down. I loved figuring out Kate’s life with the little clues that would come to us throughout the chapters. It was such a mystery, and a very well thought-out and written one at that. Twists and turns surfaced at so many points, but instead of being overwhelming, it just kept making the book better and better. The aspect I think I loved the most was the ending. Wardell gives her books the best endings – they never end the way you think they will or is the “norm.” (Check out Planning to Live and you’ll see what I mean). I really enjoyed the ending to this book as well, and again – if you haven’t checked out Heather Wardell  yet – do it! You’ll thank me!

Rating:

5 Stages of Grief by Bethany Ramos

Bethany Ramos is on tour with CLP Blog Tours and 5 Stages of Grief. This book really intrigued me. I thought it was different from a lot of books I have read lately, and I thought the timing in the main character’s life was really interesting. Danielle Starkey gets a disturbing phone call regarding a vacation that her husband booked – with his mistress. Danielle is furious that her husband was cheating on her – past tense because her husband died in a tragic car accident. Danielle doesn’t know what to think about Cherry James (such a mistress name) and why her husband was cheating. How do you get resolution when the cheating party is six feet under? Danielle comes up with a scheme to confront Cherry James about the affair, but in the process, manages to almost lose her cushy job as a magazine beauty editor. Will Danielle be able to keep it all together, or will this latest twist be too much to handle?

I thought Ramos gave readers a whole new angle to work with during Danielle’s journey. Her husband is already deceased, she’s already allowed herself to break down about it, and now we watch as this new piece of information gets brought to life. While the story is sad, it’s also humorous, charming and realistic.  Danielle relies on her best friend to help get through, and she also gives her shot at online dating. The beginning went kind of fast for me, I was trying to figure out what the heck was all going on, but once I was a few pages in I started to get a handle on Danielle and her friends and what she was going through. I also loved that Danielle was a beauty editor, and watching her on the job was a lot of fun – something I think chick lit fans will enjoy. Overall, I’m really impressed at the story and characters Ramos created and think this is a book to get on your to-read lists!

Rating:

Future Tour: Favorable Conditions by Kathleen Kole

Kathleen will be on tour March 5-26 with her novel Favorable Conditions

Can you imagine being forty-five, your last child has moved on to college and the time is ripe for you to blaze a new trail into your future?  Pat Keegan can.  Well, except for the tiny detail that all her preconceived notions about how that future was going to shape up are completely out the window.

Join Pat as she jumps feet first back into the world outside her door, takes on a new business venture, is pursued by a much younger man and has to muddle her way through more emotions than she knew she had – all to finally attain her goal of rediscovering who she is and what she wants from the next phase of her life.

Please visit CLP Blog Tours for the full tour schedule. **Anyone who purchases their copy of Favorable Conditions between before March 26 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five entries in a drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift card!!**

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